Board of Education Approves Relocation Of School Buses

Dozens of school buses at the Fort Trumbull will be relocated due to a request by New London’s municipal government and a developer planning residential construction at the peninsula.

The Board of Education voted 6-1 on Wednesday to relocate the buses from a lot at Fort Trumbull to New London High School, pending the resolution of any building and grounds code compliance issues. Secretary Jason Catala said sites other than the high school are also under consideration and that the relocation could be temporary.

President Margaret Curtin said River Bank Construction and the city administration asked that the buses be removed from the peninsula as it moves toward breaking ground on the “Village on the Thames” development of 99 residential units in 70 buildings at Fort Trumbull.

“The city does not ask us for very much. As we go along, we’re trying to develop a relationship with them,” she said. “They asked us for this, I do not see a problem with this at this time.”

Mayor Daryl Finizio thanked the board for approving the relocation of the bus fleet, saying it was a cooperative effort between the city and school governments. He also said the residential development will improve economic investment in New London which in turn will improve investment in the schools.

“Without that, we can’t go into this wonderful new phase in our educational development that I think we’re about to embark on,” said Finizio.

Board member Bill Morse, who opposed the move, said he was concerned that the action could result in vandalism of the buses. He said this was an issue when the Student Transportation of America buses were formerly kept on the NLHS grounds and that this contributed to STA’s decision to move the fleet. He said vandalism has not been a problem at Fort Trumbull.

Board member Barbara Major said other factors contributed to STA’s decision to move the buses to Fort Trumbull, where the district pays over $50,000 to use a lot for parking. She said one factor was mold in a NLHS room used by STA employees.

A study by the Capitol Region Education Council compiled potential issues raised by STA and NLHS officials in moving 34 buses to the high school. These included diesel fumes, an impact on traffic flow at the school, possible vandalism, and school security issues.

CREC recommended that drivers limit idling and park as far from the school’s air intake and exhaust vents as possible. It said expanding the parking lot could resolve the traffic flow issue while additional lighting, security cameras, or guards would discourage vandalism. CREC also said the 40 drivers employed by STA could be issued key cards or checked by a guard to maintain school security.

Other improvements suggested by CREC include an on-site containment site and stormwater runoff testing to mitigate possible hazardous materials issues, improvement of the STA room at the school, and radio antennae on the school roof to maintain communications between drivers and the STA base.

CREC also says drivers should be respectful of the school environment, recommending that they check the electronic child check alert to make sure it does not go off and distract students, adhere to STA policies regarding bringing young children with them on the bus, and not smoke on school grounds.

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